Pocket match-case.



J. J. MANCHESTER.

POCKET MATCH CASE. APPLIOATION FILED DEO.6, 1909.

Patented NQV. 22, 1910.

INVENTOR m m e n c n m e m ATTORNEY.

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TINTTED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

JEROME J. MANCHESTER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

POCKET MATCH-CASE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEROME J. MANoHEs- TER, of Indianapolis, county ofMarion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and usefulPocket Match-Case; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of pocket orportable match cases by way of rendering the same more simple and plainin construction and form, and to improve the ease of manipulating andoperating the same, with especial reference to its being held,manipulated and operated by one hand. Other devices of a somewhatsimilar character have been devised where the device had to be held byone hand and the match discharging means operated by the other hand. Itis desirable, however, that the device be held and operated by one hand,and the match be received and struck for lighting by the other hand.

' One feature of the invention, therefore, consists in providing asimple match discharging slide in the lower part of the case, and at therear end or the end opposite the discharge end, as matches should bedischarged outwardly away from the hand of the person or persons holdingthe same. The external means to be operated for actu' ating saiddischarging means should be located as near the other or forward end ofthe case as possible. This is in order to enable the thumb of the handthat holds the case to operate the external button or knob. This canonly be done by having the button or knob near the forward end and alsoin the side wall of the case, so that the hand which operates it cangrasp the major portion of the case for holding it while the thumb isoperating the discharging means. Therefore, an extension from thedischarging means within the casing runs to the external button oroperating means for connecting the two and it also serves for guidingand holding the discharging means.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the followingdescription and claim and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the case. Fig. 2 is anelevation of the right-hand end of the device as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a central vertical section through the device reversed as com-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 6, 1909.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

Serial No. 531,574.

pared with the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the left-hand end ofFig. 3 is the same as the right-hand end of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a sectionsimilar to that shown in Fig. 3 with matches inclosed and one of thembeing discharged.

A case 10 is provided and its sides and ends are preferably integral andthe holder is rather fiat, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it is fiat inappearance and convenient to handle. At the right-hand end, as appearingin Fig. 1, there is a discharge opening 11 for the matches located atthe lower portion of the end, as shown in Fig. 2. This opening is alsoused for inserting matches.

Within the case there is a discharging means 12 slidable longitudinallyon the bottom edge and between the two side walls of the case. It has atits rear end an upward extension 13 about equal to the diameter of amatch, which normally lies behind the match, so that when thedischarging means is moved longitudinally of the case, the heel portion13 will push the match 14 out through the opening 11, as shown in Fig.4, where the actuated position of said discharging means is indicated,while Fig. 3 indicates the unoperated position.

There is a bar or guiding extension 15 secured to or, as here shown,integral with the discharging means 12 and extending forwardly beyond aslot 16 in one side wall of the case and toward the forward end thereof,and 011 its forward end a button or knob 17 is secured, the shank ofsaid button or knob extending through the slot 16 so as to be slidabletherein. Hence the discharging means 1.2 and the connecting bar 15,which are integral herein, are guided at their forward end by the slot16 and button 17. There is also a guide 18 in the form of a tonguepunched through the side wall of the case and overlapping thedischarging part 12 and the connecting bar 15 near their juncture.Therefore, the discharging part 12 is guided not only between the sidewalls but also between the tongue 18 and the bottom edge or wall of thecase.

In operation the discharging means normally rests in the position shownin Fig. 3, and, therefore, the case can be readily filled with matchesthrough the hole 11 by inverting the case until the matches are all inplace. Then by turning the device to the position shown in Fig. 1 andholding it in the left hand with the thumb on the knob 17 the device cannot only be held by the left hand, but the discharging means operated bythe thumb of the left hand. Vhen the thumb pushes the knob 17 forwardlyor to the right as shown in Fig. 1, it will move the discharging meansfrom the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4 and partiallypush a match out, when it is re moved to the right hand and struckeither on the roughened surface on the casing or elsewhere. The thumb ofthe left hand immediately withdraws or moves backwardly the knob 17 soas to return the discharging means to its normal position, as shown inFig. 3, whereupon the lower match of the series drops in front of thelittle extension 13 ready to be discharged, when the device is againoperated.

\Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A match case provided with a discharge opening through the lower part ofone end thereof, a substantially longitudinal slot in the side wall ofthe case toward the end thereof containing said opening, a dischargingplate located within the case near the end remote from said opening andslidable upon the bottom edge and between the side walls of the case andhaving an integral extension from its upper portion to and over saidslot, an external knob with its shank extending through said slot andsecured to said extension, and a guide lug secured to the wall of thecase and overlapping said discharging plate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presenceof the witnesses herein named.

JEROME J. MANCHESTER. lVitnesses V. H. Looxwoon, O. M. MOLAUGHLIN.

